tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post8004638829346862451..comments2018-02-20T05:16:07.407-05:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: Breaking Bad: Vince Gilligan post-mortems season twoAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-55837120920660119482009-06-09T23:46:41.988-04:002009-06-09T23:46:41.988-04:00what a great interview. thank you so much.what a great interview. thank you so much.basssamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04119898262688083935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-83368425197373137482009-06-02T22:13:40.156-04:002009-06-02T22:13:40.156-04:00I am really loving this show. I can&#39;t say enou...I am really loving this show. I can&#39;t say enough good things about the writing, the casting, and the acting. I think it was Jesse&#39;s sobbing that was the most disturbing scene so far, for me anyway. <br /><br />The ending stunned me, but left me wanting more. I would&#39;ve thought an image of one falling body heading toward&#39;s Walter&#39;s backyard would&#39;ve been really dramatic as a closing shot, and pretty much confirmed that the body bags contained passengers. Oh, well. Still, my favorite show on TV.Kent Merritthttp://www.kentmerritt.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-22538159549983257452009-06-02T00:58:20.302-04:002009-06-02T00:58:20.302-04:00Great interview!
just a quick note to people who ...Great interview!<br /><br />just a quick note to people who are coming up with alternate ways that Walt could have explained away the influx of money.<br /><br />you're missing it on 2 points.<br /><br />first, Walt is NOT a money launderer, or a crime genius. he didn't know what he was getting into at the beginning, and everything he's done has been resultant of his inexperience. once he got to the point of "owning" his own criminal tendencies, Saul was in the mix, and he followed his lead.<br /><br />second, if we could assume an alternate reality where Walt shows up with over $700,000 in "casino" winnings, would we be so far away from where we are now? Skyler still would have been suspicious (and if she looked into it, she'd find no evidence, same as when she called Walt's mom, talked to his "benefactors", etc.), there would have been even MORE questions in terms of taxes and reported earnings....and more importantly, it would have completely subtracted one of the huge arcs of Walt's character. if he had been able to say that HE won the money gambling, and it was HIS doing, he might have satiated some of the darker cravings of his mind that were unearthed with him cooking and dealing meth. the idea that he's beginning to resent HIS OWN SON for the credit he's receiving for eliciting these phantom earnings on the website, that's a huge part of the destruction of his characters and the deevolution of the Walt we knew. i.e. the meat of Season 3!!!<br /><br />let the show runners do their thing. they've crafted the best drama on TV since West Wing left, adn they show no signs of stopping. let's enjoy it...Willhttp://willbraden.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-26606408924613090482009-06-01T22:47:44.112-04:002009-06-01T22:47:44.112-04:00I'd hope that Mr. Gilligan would place alongside h...I'd hope that Mr. Gilligan would place alongside his examples of people rationalizing their involvement in Nazi Germany and Pol Pot's Cambodia the US public and mainstream US media in the Iraq War, torture, and numerous other acts going on still today in the Obama years -- from refusing to allow mostly innocent Arabs into high security prisons in the US, rather than Guantanamo, to bombing Pakistanis to defending Israeli interests by trying to sabotage electoral successes by Hamas and Hezbollah.muldfeldhttp://muldfeld.livejournal.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68605742049773165092009-06-01T20:56:39.426-04:002009-06-01T20:56:39.426-04:00I found the ending very evocative of Donnie Darko,...I found the ending very evocative of Donnie Darko, and that was a real negative for me. One of the things I love about Breaking Bad is the relentless realism - I mean, it&#39;s a show uses co-incidence and so on, but the ending brought in this kind of surrealist &quot;judgement from the sky&quot; element that seemed forced and out of the mood to me. I can&#39;t help thinking if they had another season, and had a series of factors impacted by Walt&#39;s actions coming together to cause the crash, it may have worked, but it was just too random.<br /><br />While Walt did a terrible thing in letting Jane die, Jane&#39;s father should never have been let back in to work. I find it unbelievable that he was. In going back to work when he was not capable, he was much more culpable for the tragedy than Walt, and in letting him back with little more than a &quot;well, we&#39;ll support you&quot; his employer is ultimately culpable.<br /><br />Until now, the consequences are very natural: people die from drug use every day; lies and criminality ruin relationships every day; but drug overdoses resulting in mid-air collisions bc grief stricken parents don&#39;t do their jobs? Not so much a daily event.<br /><br />Aside from that, though, the ending was excellent. The devastation wrought on Jesse by Jane&#39;s death had far more emotional impact for me than the crash; the triumph of Skylar finally facing reality: the bitter twist of Walt watching his son&#39;s elation while Walt uses his idealism to launder drug money - that&#39;s what I watch this show for.<br /><br />It&#39;s not just Cranston who needs an Emmy nod - it&#39;s Aaron Paul as well.Alison Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10515811554518736780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-87011309087481094592009-06-01T14:59:10.614-04:002009-06-01T14:59:10.614-04:00Great show; great write-ups; great interview.
The...Great show; great write-ups; great interview.<br /><br />There are just a couple of things that still perplex me though:<br /><br />1) Why didn't Walt to Skyler he went to Vegas (or an Indian casino) and gambled (say, Flynn's college fund) to get the money. It seemed like a natural/logical idea for Walt to have. All the pieces would have fit; maybe he would have had to explain the second cell phone a bit, but I'm sure he could say something (like, it was for his "gambling coach" or loan shark or something).<br /><br />2) I love that Gilligan says the writers take the characters and then try to understand them when they write (almost working backwards, which when you think about it, is really forwards...), as opposed to deciding the story-arcs, and then piecing in the characters to match them. However, a couple of Gilligan's responses troubled me about that: why does Walt's character have to be "judged" and dealt with accordingly (inevitably in the story), the deeper his morals become worse? I thought one line from "Californication" summed that concept up best: "There's no such thing as morals, just consequences..." Sure, if Walt's actions cause more and more worse things, which would somehow force the issue--of something like the cartel eventually getting/killing him--then that's fine, because that's "earned" in the story, and that's what the consequences would dictate. But why is that ending inevitable? I can also see a scenario where Walt becomes "better" and better at this drug-dealing business (with help from the likes of Saul and Gus). Who's to say he doesn't find a way to "get-by", and then perhaps die from Cancer a decade or so later. That's not ridiculous possibility --perhaps not as unlikely as the bleak one Gilligan ominously alludes to, but I don't see why it's out of the question. I don't understand why Gilligan keeps bringing back the moral repercussions as having impact on Walt's future. That seems contradictory (at least to me) to the idea of letting the characters and their actions bring about their outcomes. There really doesn't have to be any "machina" for this show to work (aside from perhaps the coincidences...).Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07432222830203217278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30433244251984517622009-06-01T12:06:51.887-04:002009-06-01T12:06:51.887-04:00I liked the part about the character's taking on a...I liked the part about the character's taking on a life of their own. I'm an aspiring writer, and that rings very true for me. I was writing about two people who were going to fall in love, I knew they'd be together, and I knew the woman was fiery, tempremental and antagonistic and the man was moralistic, idealistic and naive. What I didn't know was that the woman would hate the man almost as much as she loved him. That she was angered and infuriated by him, while at the same time, falling for him completely. Its stuff like that which makes writing feel so organic and natural. <br /><br />Well done sir, anyway, Breaking Bad is tremendous.Tom Badlanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05776923509603646485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13114682719065366842009-06-01T11:15:37.518-04:002009-06-01T11:15:37.518-04:00Thanks for the great interview! Any chance you'd d...Thanks for the great interview! Any chance you'd do more interview (on say the other cast members of breaking bad and/or all the shows you cover) ? I ask because they're really great to read, and often shows us a aspect of a show/character/storyline that weren't thought of beforehand. <br /><br />How is it that I didn't see the whole picture in the episode titles, yet am not surprised that Gilligan managed to put the clue in then in such an awesome way?Belindanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30523206073032662512009-06-01T10:22:58.323-04:002009-06-01T10:22:58.323-04:00Great interview. I can't help thinking that Gilli...Great interview. I can't help thinking that Gilligan is referencing Donnie Darko a bit with the "jet engine falling on his head" comment, and that aspect of this finale did have me thinking back to that great (in my mind) movie. I also love a meaty BB interview with Vince that doesn't even refer to X Files. Thanks Alan.Doug Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367377514810160082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31616490435769841892009-06-01T09:17:09.304-04:002009-06-01T09:17:09.304-04:00Great interview, Alan. Nice to have an interview ...Great interview, Alan. Nice to have an interview who also knows and has a passion for the show. I also have to thank Vince for bringing me Johnathon Banks in this episode. I loved that guy on "Wiseguy" and he just never seemed to get on something with that kind of quality until now. I dread seeing Walt Jr being crushed by the father he has put so high on a pedestal.Quackamagooskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10761230218952467636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10368840667679478442009-06-01T04:27:24.989-04:002009-06-01T04:27:24.989-04:00Thanks for the interview Alan. Always a pleasure t...Thanks for the interview Alan. Always a pleasure to read your blog.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-40581148793825459992009-06-01T02:53:35.594-04:002009-06-01T02:53:35.594-04:00Great Q &amp; A...great analysis...great season of...Great Q &amp; A...great analysis...great season of TV.wcdixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06511429457006302795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-39736773380273255242009-06-01T02:48:23.140-04:002009-06-01T02:48:23.140-04:00An absolutely riveting and visually stunning final...An absolutely riveting and visually stunning final episode that rivaled the best that TV has ever offered (think &quot;The Wire&quot;). The only thing that would make the viewing experience better is if it were commercial free. Mr. Gilligan: Maybe you can get one of your sponsors to underwrite an entire hour so the first ep. of season three can have the full impact that no commercials provides? <br /><br />Can&#39;t wait to see what happens to Walt &amp; co. next.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-23894135272196595452009-06-01T01:47:49.556-04:002009-06-01T01:47:49.556-04:00Awesome. Thank you for this :).Awesome. Thank you for this :).Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01776168568289417003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-76149650989296376432009-06-01T00:33:37.574-04:002009-06-01T00:33:37.574-04:00Incredible interview - very informative. I had mi...Incredible interview - very informative. I had mixed emotions about the ending until I saw this. At the moment I am rewatching the last episode to find the teddy bear lol. Thanks Vince, for one of the best shows on television.C. Salerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06595845919176340359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-46461546610622344772009-06-01T00:26:33.800-04:002009-06-01T00:26:33.800-04:00Awesome unpredictable ending.
Walt was still respo...Awesome unpredictable ending.<br />Walt was still responsible for what happened to the teddy bear even though his family was harmed by the accident.Nicholas Onuszkanyczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05969005206695802882noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53032657619426704982009-06-01T00:21:52.191-04:002009-06-01T00:21:52.191-04:00So the writers see Walt as a "monster," (or as mov...So the writers see Walt as a "monster," (or as moving steadily in that direction, at least). I can't say I'm pleased by that.<br /><br />On one hand, it's a spot-on description of Walt in season two, and it has me thinking back to plenty of times when my conception of Walt (and my empathy, let's say) was challenged by how he behaved. That dissonance is engaging, even if not generally comfortable. So I'd call it good TV.<br /><br />But on the other hand, *knowing* that's how the writers view Walt is going to change how I watch the show. If we assume he's a monster, and that redemption is unlikely, it takes something away.joshjshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15687319490325018311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-44928642017967874682009-06-01T00:19:10.606-04:002009-06-01T00:19:10.606-04:00Great season, thanks for this absorbing and illumi...Great season, thanks for this absorbing and illuminating talk.Ronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05278152995831703586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-33555798037811962122009-06-01T00:17:01.235-04:002009-06-01T00:17:01.235-04:00Phenomenal stuff Alan. Thanks to you and Vince for...Phenomenal stuff Alan. Thanks to you and Vince for putting this out there.Tucker Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10793079084633425826noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-8059519502718044332009-05-31T23:40:02.083-04:002009-05-31T23:40:02.083-04:00I enjoy your interviews/words as much as I do the ...I enjoy your interviews/words as much as I do the show, Alan. And thank you, Vince, for the BRILLIANT TVAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-80833612039790539652009-05-31T23:10:07.650-04:002009-05-31T23:10:07.650-04:00Damn good interview that reveals a lot about the s...Damn good interview that reveals a lot about the show. Loving these postgame convos.Zack Smithhttp://www.zswriter.comnoreply@blogger.com